There’s no better combination than Jazz and Wine … and that’s exactly what Wishlist is teaming together for a special inaugural fundraising event in support of Gympie Hospital staff and patients!

All proceeds from the June 4th event will be directed towards a much needed piece of equipment currently on the wish list – a $36,946 BiPAP Non-Invasive Ventilator.

Director of Gympie Health Service’s Department of Emergency Medicine Dr Jason Lindeman said the ventilator would make a significant difference to patients and staff at the hospital.

“Gympie Hospital only has one BiPAP machine, which was also funded by Wishlist,” Dr Lindeman said.

“At present, if a second patient requires BiPAP intervention to help them breathe, it can pose a real problem for the patient and the staff taking care of them,” he said.

“The BiPAP ventilator can help a very sick patient avoid having to be transferred to Intensive Care to have a tube inserted to help them breathe,” he said.

Director of Gympie Health Service Leuwin Ferguson said a second machine would mean one BiPAP ventilator could be kept permanently in the Emergency Department and the other unit could be shared by the wards.

“Hopefully this will mean we’ll be able to treat very sick patients locally and close to home rather than having to have them transferred to a larger hospital for more complex care,” Ms Ferguson said.

“We are very grateful for the support of Wishlist and we’d love to see this event become a regular event on the yearly Gympie social calendar to provide ongoing funding to our local Health Service,” she said.

Wishlist CEO Lisa Rowe said $10,000 had already been raised towards the $36,946 ventilation machine thanks to donations from Quota, the Zinc FM 2015 Race Day, the Gympie Turf Club and Bidvest.

“Fundraising events are only as wonderful as the people who support them, and we are really humbled by the support that’s already been thrown behind this very first Jazz & Wine Festival for Gympie,” Ms Rowe said.

Wishlist Jazz & Wine Festival FAST Facts:

• Inaugural Wishlist event raising money for equipment at Gympie Hospital
• Saturday 4th June, 2016 from 2pm – 6pm
• At Gunabul Homestead (9 Power Road, Southside, Gympie)

ENTERTAINMENT:
• The Kitty Kats
• Robyn Brown + Sassy Jazz
• Auctions + Raffles

TICKETS:
• General admission: $30
• General admission + wine & cheese hamper: $60
• VIP admission: $100 (full food and wine package)
• Buy tickets at: http://www.wishlist.org.au/Events/WishlistJazzandWineFestival-544/

Proudly sponsored by Schuh Group, The Gympie Times and Zinc 96.1.